Read The Section Course Case Study And Analyze The Be 748112

Read The Section Course Case Study And Analyze The Behavior Of The C

Read the section "Course Case Study" and analyze the behavior of the counselor, as a professional, that you consider unethical or unprofessional. Write a brief summary of the questionable behavior. Substantiate the summary with reasons for your analysis. Next, identify how the counselor may have been in violation of the ACA Code of Ethics. Give the number and definitions of specific violations and compare these violations to the APA ethical standards. In relation to these specific violations, describe the similarities or differences in the ACA and APA ethical codes. Finally, select an ethical decision-making model from those in your readings and apply the model to a minimum of one ethical dilemma you identified in the course scenario. Your paper should be at least 4 pages long, not counting the title page and the reference page.

Paper For Above instruction

The case study of Joe, a mental health counselor, exemplifies numerous unethical and unprofessional behaviors that violate established ethical standards in counseling practice. His actions demonstrate a disregard for client welfare, professional boundaries, and adherence to ethical codes set forth by the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). This analysis will highlight the behaviors perceived as unethical, relate them to specific violations of the ACA Code of Ethics, compare with APA standards, discuss similarities and differences between these ethical frameworks, and apply an ethical decision-making model to one of the dilemmas faced by Joe.

Unethical Behaviors and Their Implications

Joe’s conduct throughout the scenario reflects multiple ethical breaches. Primarily, his response to Jill’s disclosure about her sexual orientation was highly inappropriate and unprofessional. His immediate shocked reaction and moral judgment, grounded in his religious beliefs, hindered his capacity to provide nonjudgmental, culturally sensitive counseling. According to the ACA Code of Ethics (2014), counselors are expected to respect clients' diversity and avoid any form of discrimination (A.4.b), which Joe disregarded by labeling Jill’s feelings as immoral without exploration or understanding.

Moreover, Joe’s attempt to introduce and forcibly try a new unvalidated technique called "rebirthing" with Jill, despite her declining participation, breaches the ethical responsibility to use evidence-based practices and obtain informed consent (A.4.a). His decision to proceed with this technique without explicit agreement, especially given its controversial nature, illustrates a lack of respect for client autonomy and informed consent standards.

Joe also failed in maintaining appropriate boundaries. His attraction to Jill created a dual relationship, which is explicitly prohibited under the ACA (A.5.b) and APA (Standard 3.05). Further, his subsequent engagement in an intimate sexual relationship with Jill after terminating therapy constitutes sexual misconduct, violating confidentiality, professional boundaries, and the obligation to avoid exploitation or harm (ACA, A.6.b; APA, Standard 4.05).

His decision to contact Jill’s employer without her consent to inquire about her well-being not only breaches confidentiality but also demonstrates a misuse of privileged information. Additionally, Joe’s neglect of ongoing care—failing to provide necessary referrals or continue monitoring Jill’s mental health after ceasing treatment—demonstrates neglect of his professional responsibilities and client welfare (A.4.a, A.11).

Violations of the ACA and Comparisons with APA Standards

The behaviors depicted breach multiple standards of the ACA Code of Ethics. The most salient violations include:

  • 3.05 Multiple Relationships: Engaging in a sexual relationship with Jill after termination creates a dual relationship that could impair professional judgment.
  • 4.01 Maintaining Competence: Attempting to practice marriage and family therapy without appropriate training or credentials violates competence standards.
  • 4.05 Professional Boundaries: Crossing boundaries by having an intimate relationship undermines the integrity of the professional relationship.
  • A.4.a, B.2: Using unvalidated therapeutic methods and failing to obtain informed consent violate standards related to respecting client autonomy and beneficence.
  • A.6.b: Sexual misconduct explicitly violates the ethical obligation to avoid exploitation or harm.

In contrast, the APA Ethical Principles (2017) underscore similar standards. APA Standard 3.05 prohibits multiple relationships that could impair objectivity or create conflicts, and Standard 4.05 explicitly forbids sexual relationships with current or former clients. Both codes emphasize competence, informed consent, confidentiality, and the importance of avoiding harm. However, nuances exist; for example, the APA places distinct emphasis on personal values’ influence and the need for psychologists to be aware of boundary issues more explicitly than sometimes outlined in the ACA.

Similarities and Differences in the Ethical Codes

Both the ACA and APA codes prioritize client welfare, competence, confidentiality, and professional boundaries. They emphasize that counselors and psychologists must avoid exploitation and maintain professionalism. The key similarity lies in their core principles: avoiding harm, respecting diversity, and ensuring informed consent. Nevertheless, differences include the structural presentation—ACA’s code is more detailed about cultural competence and social justice issues, whereas APA emphasizes personal values management and research ethics. The APA also provides more explicit guidance regarding the management of dual relationships, which is pertinent in Joe’s case.

Applying an Ethical Decision-Making Model

To address the ethical dilemmas in Joe’s scenario, the ethical decision-making model by Rest (1986) can be employed. This model involves four components: moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation, and moral character.

Considering the dilemma of Joe’s sexual relationship with Jill after therapy termination, moral sensitivity involves recognizing that his actions are ethically problematic. The subsequent stage, moral judgment, requires evaluating whether his behavior violates ethical standards. Clearly, engaging in a sexual relationship with a former client violates multiple standards and constitutes misconduct.

Moral motivation involves prioritizing ethical standards over personal feelings or desires. Joe’s attraction to Jill and his subsequent actions indicate a failure in this regard. The final step, moral character, encompasses acting ethically despite temptations or personal challenges. In this case, Joe’s actions reflect a weakness in moral character, as he prioritized his feelings over professional obligations, leading to exploitation and harm.

Using Rest’s model to address this dilemma underscores the importance of self-awareness, proper boundaries, and adherence to ethical standards to prevent harm and uphold the integrity of the profession. It emphasizes that counselors must develop moral resilience and recognize their vulnerabilities, seeking supervision or consultation when faced with ethical uncertainties.

Conclusion

The case of Joe exemplifies significant breaches of ethical principles in counseling, with damaging implications for client welfare and professional integrity. His conduct contravenes key standards in both ACA and APA codes, especially related to boundaries, competence, and avoiding exploitation. Applying a structured ethical decision-making model reveals that self-awareness, adherence to standards, and ethical prioritization are crucial in preventing such misconduct. Counseling professionals must continually reflect on their ethical responsibilities, maintain boundaries, and seek supervision when necessary to uphold the highest standards of practice and protect their clients.

References

  • American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA: Author.
  • American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Washington, DC: APA.
  • Rest, J. R. (1986). Moral development: Advances in research and theory. Praeger.
  • Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Callanan, P. (2014). Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (9th ed.). Brooks Cole.
  • Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2016). Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling (5th ed.). Pearson.
  • Knapp, S., & Vandecreek, L. (2012). Rational and irrational approaches to ethical decision-making in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90(3), 312-319.
  • Fisher, C. B. (2017). Decoding the Ethics Code: A Practical Guide for Psychologists. Sage Publications.
  • Bass, T., & Davis, P. (2014). The Courage to Care: Alternative Approaches to Difficult Ethical Dilemmas in Counseling. Ethics & Behavior, 24(3), 188-203.
  • Hansen, A., & Daneshvar, P. (2016). Boundary Issues in Counseling Practice. Journal of Counseling & Development, 94(4), 406-414.
  • Johnson, W. B. (2013). Ethical Decision Making in Counseling. Counseling Today, 55(2), 28-34.

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